continúa
kohn-tee-NOO-ah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
El presidente continúa con su discurso a pesar del ruido.
A2The president continues with his speech despite the noise.
¡Continúa! Lo estás haciendo muy bien.
A1Keep going! You are doing it very well.
Si usted continúa por esa calle, encontrará el museo.
B1If you (formal) continue down that street, you will find the museum.
💡 Grammar Points
Two Uses for One Word
The word 'continúa' is used for two things: 1) To say 'he/she/it/you (formal) continues' (Present Tense statement). 2) To give a friendly command to one person ('tú'): 'Continue!'
The Necessary Accent Mark
The accent mark (tilde) on the 'ú' is essential! It tells you to pronounce that vowel strongly, separating it from the 'a' sound (con-ti-NÚ-a), which is necessary for this verb's pattern.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Command Form
Mistake: "Using 'continuas' (without the accent) when giving a command to a friend."
Correction: Always use '¡Continúa!' when telling a friend to keep going. 'Continúas' is only used for statements like 'Tú continúas' (You continue).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Continúa' for Directions
This is a polite and simple way to give directions. If you are talking to a stranger, use 'Continúe' (the formal 'usted' command form) to be more respectful.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: continúa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'continúa' as a direct command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'continúa' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is there to show you where the stress falls when you say the word. It makes sure that the 'u' sound is pronounced strongly and separately, avoiding confusion with other similar verb patterns.
What is the difference between 'continúa' and 'continúe'?
'Continúa' is the command form you use when talking to a friend ('tú'). 'Continúe' is the command form you use when talking formally to a stranger, boss, or elder ('usted').